DeMbare finally win

HARARE - Dynamos provided an emphatic response to their declining form with a confidence-boosting 2-1 victory against Harare City in a Castle Premiership match here yesterday to bring smiles on the faces of their restive fans who had endured a six-game winless streak.

It was a welcome result for the Glamour Boys, who find themselves trailing log leaders FC Platinum by 11 points with 10 games left before the season comes to an end.

The victory was even more sweeter for the DeMbare fans as they once again found their voice especially with news filtering in that their bitter rivals CAPS United had bit the dust in Bulawayo.

Denver Mukamba and Ocean Mushure’s second half goals were enough to ensure maximum points for Lloyd Mutasa whose reaction after the game summed up the relief of a man who had been under immense pressure to deliver while City got their goal through Jerry Chipangura.

“We badly needed the win and we believe this should be a turning point for us going forward. Going for six matches without a win is never easy.

“The youngsters turned up today and we should start to move forward from here,” Mutasa told reporters after the match.

Both teams went into the tie in need of maximum points with the Sunshine Boys being brutally inconsistent since Moses Chunga replaced Taurai Mangwiro in June.

And after the game, Chunga was less impressed with how his side have been performing and instead chose to look ahead to the 2017 season.

“We lost out yes but it was a good game. We are now looking forward to introducing more youngsters for next season. We aren’t happy but we played a good game,” Chunga said.

Chunga made three changes to the side that beat Border Strikers last weekend — recalling defender Jimmy Tigere, Hastings Chapusha and forward Honey Chimutimunzeve for Tatenda Tumba, Dexter Mawere and Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye.

Prodigal son Raphael Manuvire who had been frozen out of the Harare City starting XI since Bambo joined the Sunshine Boys had to contend with a place on the bench.

Mutasa started the game without an outright striker, playing midfielders Mukamba and his son Wisdom as twin forwards. Goalkeeper Tatenda Mkuruva returned to guard the Dynamos goal after being overlooked in last week’s 1-1 draw against Bulawayo City.

King Nasama and Kudzanai Nyakasaka made way for former Tsholotsho skipper Simba Gorogodyo and Mukamba who missed last week’s encounter.

However, Mutasa’s side struggled for fluency in a cagey opening half and failed to create any meaningful chances to test Maxwell Nyamupanedengu in goals for City.

To their credit, the Sunshine Boys passed the ball around with aplomb and purpose but failed to find a way through the DeMbare defence which was marshalled by Marshal Machazana and Obey Mwerahari and the two teams went to the break goalless.

At the start of the second half, Mutasa withdrew winger Musa Madhiri who had an uninspiring 45 minutes for Stephen Alimenda and the move looked shrewd as the Glamour Boys began to create channels in the City defence.

Gorogodyo looked menacing wide on the left and Tendai Samanja never looked comfortable at right back after replacing injured Takudzwa Chimwemwe at the stroke of halftime.

However, it was Mukamba who broke the deadlock in the 57th minute with a beautiful strike from just inside the box following a quick exchange of passes with roving right back Godknows Murwira.

With a goal in the bag, the Glamour Boys enjoyed a lion’s share of possession and had the wind in their sails as they looked to add to the tally.

Moments after their goal, Wisdom was sent through by Mukamba only for his dinked chip to sail inches over the bar with Nyamupanedengu well beaten.

With complacency seemingly creeping inside the DeMbare half, Chipangura equalised for City in the 72nd minute with what was his second goal inside a week, after getting on the score sheet in the 2-0 win over Border Strikers last weekend.

Chipangura reacted quickly to a defensive howler from Alimenda to poke home from close range after Dynamos keeper Mkuruva fumbled his first attempt.

The Glamour Boys restored their lead in the 81st minute from the penalty spot after Arnold Chivheya needlessly fouled substitute Brett Amidu inside the area.

Ocean Mushure stepped up to send Nyamupanedengu the wrong way sealing the win for DeMbare.

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